At this confession Fatima uttered a scornful laugh, and spoke a few words that increased the terror of the delinquent mother, at the same time causing the boy to commence howling with affright. "I tell you so," said the Krooman, who was standing near the white slaves; "Fatima say to Golah, `Christian dog eat the figs;' Golah kill him now; he kill da woman too." In the opinion of those who travel the great desert, about the greatest crime that can be committed is to steal food or drink, and consume either unknown to their companions of the journey. Articles of food entrusted to the care of anyone must be guarded and preserved--even at the expense of life. Under no circumstances may a morsel be consumed until it is produced in the presence of all, and a division, either equitable or otherwise, has been made. Even had the story told by the woman been true, her crime would have been considered sufficiently great to have endangered her life: but her sin was greater than that. She had bestowed favour upon a slave--a Christian dog--and had aroused the jealousy of her Mahometan lord and master. Fatima seemed happy, for nothing less than a miracle could, in her opinion, save the life of her fellow-wife, who chanced to be a hated rival. After drawing his scimitar from its sheath, and cocking his musket, Golah ordered all the slaves to squat themselves on the ground, and in a row. This order was quickly comprehended and obeyed--the whites seating themselves together at one end of the line. Golah's son and the other guard--each with his musket loaded and cocked--were stationed in front of the row; and were ordered by the sheik to shoot any one who attempted to get up from the ground. The monster then stepped up to Colin, and, seizing the young Scotchman by the auburn locks, dragged him a few paces apart from his companions. There, for a time, he was left alone. Golah then proceeded to serve out some cheni to every individual on the ground, but none was given to the woman who had aroused his anger, nor to Colin. In the sheik's opinion, to have offered them food would have been an act as foolish as to have poured it upon the sands. Food was intended to sustain life, and it was not designed by him that they should live much longer. And yet it was evident from his manner that he had not quite determined as to how they were to die. The two guards, with the muskets in their grasp, kept a sharp eye on the slaves; while Golah became engaged in a close consultation with Fatima. "What shall we do?" asked Terence; "the old villain means mischief, and how can we prevent it? We must not let him kill poor Colly." "We must do something immediately," said Harry. "We have neglected it too long, and shall now have to act under the disadvantage of their being prepared for an attack. Bill, what should we do?"